The Titans and Raiders kicked off a huge Saturday of action with both sides looking to find some momentum after a sluggish start to the season and it was the Green Machine who stood tall.
Last year’s minor premiers were missing a host of stars but young playmaker Ethan Sanders stood tall to guide Canberra to their fourth win of the season.
Middle men Joe Tapine (17 runs for 168m) and Corey Horsburgh (19 runs for 159m) were immense as the Raiders came up with a morale-boosting win on the road.
From there it’s off to CommBank Stadium for a twilight showdown between the high-flying Warriors and the injury-hit Eels, who came back to earth with a bang at Brookie last Sunday after stunning the Bulldogs at home a week earlier.
Our final instalment on a bumper Saturday of action promises to be an absolute cracker with the Roosters and Broncos renewing their rivalry at Allianz Stadium.
Both are coming off impressive wins in Anzac Round and both sit inside the top eight so we are in for a treat as James Tedesco and Reece Walsh match motors and wily veterans Daly Cherry-Evans and Adam Reynolds bring 674 games of NRL experience to the table.
All eyes will be on Roosters winger Daniel Tupou, who needs just one try to join Billy Slater in third place on the all-time tryscoring list behind Alex Johnston and Ken Irvine.
Follow all the action from Round 9 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com’s live blog.
Eels v Warriors at CommBank Stadium
Late Mail
Eels: Kelma Tuilagi has been promoted to the starting side 90 minutes before kick-off with Charlie Guymer going to the bench. Utility Dylan Walker is good to go despite failing to see out the contest against the Sea Eagles last week with an arm injury. Teancum Brown has been added to the six-man bench in jersey No.21 on game day.
Warriors: No late changes on game day after Tanner Stowers-Smith (hamstring) and playmaker Te Maire Martin (leg) were omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off after originally being named to return from injury. Luke Metcalf has been named on the interchange as he looks to return from a hamstring injury suffered in Round 5. Adam Pompey comes into the centres in place of Ali Leiataua (concussion), while Mitch Barnett is also in the concussion protocols.
Numbers Game
The Eels have won six of their last seven games against the Warriors.
The Warriors will play their 400th premiership game in Australia.
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 12 tries in his last nine games at CommBank Stadium.
Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored try doubles in all four games he has played against the Eels.
The Eels are ranked 17th for defence; conceding an average of 35 points per game.
Titans v Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium
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NRL Press Conference: Titans v Raiders – Round 9, 2026
Timoko goes big: Raiders centre Matt Timoko had a monster game with 25 runs for 326 metres including 124 post-contact metres. Kaeo Weekes (216m) and Savelio Tamale (212m) also posted big numbers while young halfback Ethan Sanders came up with two try assists and three line break assists in a composed display.
Full-time: A huge win for the Raiders away from home and missing Josh Papalii, Ethan Strange, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Noah Martin and Xavier Savage. The Green Machine completed 36 of 42 sets at 85 per cent and racked up 2013 run metres to 1595 for the Titans.
80 min: Seb Kris comes up with an intercept and races 60 metres down the right wing to put the icing on Canberra’s victory. Ethan Sanders converts from wide out. Raiders 28-12
77 min: Another shot at points for the Titans but Jayden Campbell comes up with an error at first receiver.
75 min: Keano Kini’s footwork opens the Raiders up and the Titans threaten to score but the ball goes loose and AJ Brimson eventually knocks on under pressure from Matt Timoko.
73 min: An offside penalty against Phil Sami has the Titans under the pump and Owen Pattie gets over the line but is held up.
69 min: Owen Pattie comes up with a 40-20 attempt out of dummy half and Phil Sami has to get on his bike to keep the ball in play.
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Jojo Fifita Try
66 min: All class from Jayden Campbell as he grubbers for the in-goal and Jojo Fifita follows through to score and keep the Titans in the hunt. Campbell converts. Raiders 22-12
64 min: Jed Stuart races in off his wing and jams AJ Brimson who comes up with an error in contact.
62 min: Beau Fermor finds space and picks up AJ Brimson who grubbers towards the corner. Phil Sami chases hard and cops a push in the back from Daine Laurie so the Titans get a penalty.
59 min: The Raiders choose to run the ball on the last tackle and Simi Sasagi is pulled down five metres out so the Titans come away.
57 min: The Raiders throw in a captain’s challenge claiming an obstruction by the Titans and come up trumps to move up field and onto the attack.
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Savelio Tamale Try
50 min: Joe Tapine comes up with a great offload to Tom Starling and the Raiders go to the left where Ethan Sanders lofts a perfectly timed pass to Savelio Tamale who crosses in the corner. Sanders adds the conversion from touch. Raiders 22-6
49 min: A strong tackle over the top by Daine Laurie forces an error from Keano Kini and the Raiders take over from 30 metres out.
47 min: Ethan Sanders busts the line from long range but replays show Jayden Brailey had stopped in the line and obstructed Cooper Bai. The ‘try’ is called back and the penalty puts the Titans on the attack.
Injury blow: The Raiders will play the second half without back-rower Joe Roddy, who has a suspected fractured hand.
Happy 100th: Beau Fermor was a solid contributor in the opening 40 minutes of his 100th career game with 91 run metres, three tackle breaks and 15 tackles.
Half-time: Matt Timoko and Kaeo Weekes combine for 17 runs and 294 metres while Daine Laurie also looks dangerous for the Green Machine, who complete 17 of 20 sets at 85 per cent.
40 min: Daine Laurie carves a hole up the middle and picks up Tom Starling who offloads for Kaeo Weekes who looks certain to score before Jayden Campbell comes up with a trysaver to keep the margin at 10 at the break. Raiders 16-6
38 min: The Raiders get a late chance to extend their lead and Joe Tapine puts the ball down cold to let the Titans off the hook.
36 min: Cooper Bai powers past Tom Starling and Corey Horsburgh but looses the ball when he is tackled by Kaeo Weekes within sight of the tryline.
33 min: A mistake by Jed Stuart invites the Titans into the red zone and the home side threatens on the left before Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s final pass to Jayden Campbell goes astray.
31 min: The Titans go to the air, Jed Stuart and Phil Sami contest the ball. It falls to AJ Brimson who crosses for a ‘try’ but replays show Sami had knocked the ball on before Stuart dropped it. The Raiders come away.
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Phillip Sami Try
27 min: Lachlan Ilias and AJ Brimson handle before Phil Sami gets across in the left-hand corner after Jed Stuart had come in off his wing and left some room for the Titans winger. Jayden Campbell converts. Raiders 16-6
27 min: Joe Roddy is penalised for a strip to give the Titans back-to-back sets from close range. Moeaki Fotuaika gets across the stripe but the Raiders hold him up on second tackle.
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Kaeo Weekes Try
21 min: Kaeo Weekes takes the first pass off the ruck 40 metres out from the tryline and slices past Jayden Campbell to race away and post the Raiders’ third try. Ethan Sanders can’t convert from touch. Raiders 16-0
20 min: Jed Stuart climbs high to bring down a bomb just short of the Titans line but the ball goes loose as he tries to get an offload away.
17 min: A probing run on the right edge by Jojo Fifita puts the Titans in good position but his offload is too high for Jayden Campbell who spills it.
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Simi Sasagi 2nd Try
13 min: Make it a double for Simi Sasagi after some great lead-up work by Kaeo Weekes who bamboozled the defence with some fancy stepping. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 12-0
10 min: A slick Titans backline move to the right wing but Sialetili Faeamani puts the ball down with the line wide open.
8 min: Daine Laurie comes up with a great slips catch off a Lachlan Ilias chip kick and races away to put the Raiders on the attack but Simi Sasagi’s last-tackle kick is too big and rolls dead.
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Simi Sasagi Try
5 min: The Raiders strike first through Simi Sasagi who pulls his way through the tackle of Arama Hau to score adjacent to the posts. Ethan Sanders converts. Raiders 6-0
4 min: Phil Sami comes up with a great take from a bomb but the Titans turn the ball over five metres out from their line when Beau Fermor makes a mess of the play-the-ball.
Late Mail
Titans: The Titans are 1-19 with no game day changes. Chris Randall returns from a calf injury and will line up at lock. Randall’s comeback will see Cooper Bai shift to the interchange. AJ Brimson is also back on deck after missing Round 7 for the birth of his child and slots straight back into the centres.
Raiders: Kaeo Weekes moves from fullback to five-eighth after Ethan Strange was ruled with an ankle injury. Daine Laurie is the new fullback. Owen Pattie has been added to the bench. Morgan Smithies and Joe Roddy were elevated to the starting side 90 minutes before kick-off with Jayden Brailey and Ata Mariota going to the bench.
Numbers Game
The Titans have not defeated the Raiders at Cbus Super Stadium since 2018.
The Raiders have won their last six games against the Titans.
Titans centre Jojo Fifita has scored four tries in his last four games against the Raiders.
Raiders centre Matt Timoko has scored six tries in six games against the Titans.
Titans second-rower Beau Fermor will make his 100th NRL appearance.
Roosters v Broncos at Allianz Stadium